Last updated: Update 48 - 6th December 2025
This is a thematic build where I'm not always choosing the most optimal option
A thematic build focused entirely on dealing Frost damage.
Combination
Warden - Winter's Embrace
Arcanist - Herald of the Tome
Nightblade - Assassination
Base Class
This build can use either Warden, Arcanist or Nightblade as your base class
Base Setup
A base setup that will work for most situations and which should be your starting point when making situational setups
| Front Bar | Back Bar |
|---|---|
| Slot 1: Wield Soul | Slot 1: Winter's Revenge |
| Slot 2: Torchbearer | Slot 2: Arctic Blast |
| Slot 3: Tentacular Dread | Slot 3: Barbed Trap |
| Slot 4: Deadly Cloak | Slot 4: Stampede |
| Slot 5: Ulfsild's Contingency | Slot 5: Recuperative Treatise |
| Ultimate: Soul Harvest | Ultimate: Northern Storm |
I don't use a static rotation so this is just a list of priorities. Simply recast abilities when they run out and follow this list of priorities when there are multiple things to refresh
When you use a Destruction Staff on your frontbar, you usually want to fit a Heavy Attack into each Off Balance window. How often you need to do it depends on your sustain, since teammates who provide a lot of it can let you skip Heavy Attacks entirely.
Priority List
Pre-buff
These abilities can be pre-cast before entering combat
Final Setups
A few examples of final setups you could end up with after applying the situational skills to the base setup
Example of a setup you can use for trash packs
| Front Bar | Back Bar |
|---|---|
| Slot 1: Camouflaged Hunter | Slot 1: Winter's Revenge |
| Slot 2: Torchbearer | Slot 2: Arctic Blast |
| Slot 3: Tentacular Dread | Slot 3: Proximity Detonation |
| Slot 4: Trample | Slot 4: Stampede |
| Slot 5: Ulfsild's Contingency | Slot 5: Recuperative Treatise |
| Ultimate: Soul Harvest | Ultimate: Northern Storm |
There are no passives you need to skip with this build, unless you're using an Ice Staff
Class - Winter's Embrace
Glacial Presence - High Priority
Frozen Armor - Medium Priority
Icy Aura - Low Priority
Piercing Cold - High Priority
Base Setup
A base setup that will work for most situations and which should be your starting point when making situational setups
Switching gear for trash packs isn't worth it unless you're using gear-swap addons
Default setup
| Gear Slot | Set | Weight/Type | Trait | Enchantment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Head |
Medium | |||
![]() Shoulders |
Light | |||
![]() Chest |
Light | |||
![]() Hands |
Light | |||
![]() Belt |
Light | |||
![]() Legs |
Light | |||
![]() Boots |
Light | |||
![]() Necklace |
Jewelry | |||
![]() Ring |
Jewelry | |||
![]() Ring |
Jewelry | |||
![]() Frontbar Main Hand |
Dagger | |||
![]() Frontbar Off Hand |
Dagger | |||
![]() Backbar Main Hand |
Greatsword |
Gear that can be stronger than the setup from the table in specific situations or when specific circumstances are present
Gear that is easier to obtain and can be used while you work towards the best gear
Crafted:
All of these are tradable and can be bought from other players
No Overland, Dungeon or Trial gear is listed as the Crafted options are superior.
Additional tips
Final Setups
A few examples of final setups you could end up with after applying situational rules to the base setup
This is the crafted gear setup you can start with
| Gear Slot | Set | Weight/Type | Trait | Enchantment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Head |
Medium | |||
![]() Shoulders |
Light | |||
![]() Chest |
Light | |||
![]() Hands |
Light | |||
![]() Belt |
Light | |||
![]() Legs |
Light | |||
![]() Boots |
Light | |||
![]() Necklace |
Jewelry | |||
![]() Ring |
Jewelry | |||
![]() Ring |
Jewelry | |||
![]() Frontbar Main Hand |
Dagger | |||
![]() Frontbar Off Hand |
Dagger | |||
![]() Backbar Main Hand |
Greatsword |
This is a setup you should use if you don't have access to any Trial gear
| Gear Slot | Set | Weight/Type | Trait | Enchantment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Head |
Medium | |||
![]() Shoulders |
Light | |||
![]() Chest |
Light | |||
![]() Hands |
Light | |||
![]() Belt |
Light | |||
![]() Legs |
Light | |||
![]() Boots |
Light | |||
![]() Necklace |
Jewelry | |||
![]() Ring |
Jewelry | |||
![]() Ring |
Jewelry | |||
![]() Frontbar Main Hand |
Dagger | |||
![]() Frontbar Off Hand |
Dagger | |||
![]() Backbar Main Hand |
Greatsword |
The best setup for trash and AoE fights
| Gear Slot | Set | Weight/Type | Trait | Enchantment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Head |
Medium | |||
![]() Shoulders |
Light | |||
![]() Chest |
Light | |||
![]() Hands |
Light | |||
![]() Belt |
Light | |||
![]() Legs |
Light | |||
![]() Boots |
Light | |||
![]() Necklace |
Jewelry | |||
![]() Ring |
Jewelry | |||
![]() Ring |
Jewelry | |||
![]() Frontbar Main Hand |
Dagger | |||
![]() Frontbar Off Hand |
Dagger | |||
![]() Backbar Main Hand |
Greatsword |
Example of a setup with Destruction Staff on frontbar
| Gear Slot | Set | Weight/Type | Trait | Enchantment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Head |
Medium | |||
![]() Shoulders |
Light | |||
![]() Chest |
Light | |||
![]() Hands |
Light | |||
![]() Belt |
Light | |||
![]() Legs |
Light | |||
![]() Boots |
Light | |||
![]() Necklace |
Jewelry | |||
![]() Ring |
Jewelry | |||
![]() Ring |
Jewelry | |||
![]() Frontbar Main Hand |
Inferno/Ice Staff | |||
![]() Backbar Main Hand |
Greatsword |
This setup parsed 123k with an Inferno Staff and 117k with an Ice Staff
Warfare
Fitness
The difference between best and worst race is about 5% of DPS and there is no content in the entire game that you'd be blocked from completing because of choosing a bad race.
Best race for 12-man content - High Elf, Dark Elf
Best race for 4-man content - Khajiit
Other decent options: Orc, Breton
You should use
The Thief Mundus, which increases your Critical Chance
HEALTH
0
STAMINA
0
MAGICKA
64
You should always put all 64 attribute points into Magicka
Most of the time you should use Tri-Stat potions (Restore Health, Restore Stamina,
Restore
Magicka). They'll greatly improve your sustain. You can craft them by combining
Columbine,
Bugloss
and
Mountain's Flower.
When using a Destruction Staff, you can also use Heroism Potions (Restore Stamina, Restore Magicka, Heroism) which can provide a 100% uptime on Minor Heroism buff which generates
ultimate, but they're expensive because they're crafted by combining
Dragon Rheum,
Dragon's Blood
and
Columbine.
Combat Metrics screenshot of the 125k parse
Recording of the 125k parse
Inferno Staff - 123k DPS
Logs of Veteran Trials and Dungeons I've finished using this build
Trials
Veteran Lucent Citadel - https://www.esologs.com/reports/dHbLYPcCnXy6TjMp
Veteran Kyne's Aegis - https://www.esologs.com/reports/GHMq8gvnaBty7KFW
Dungeons
Veteran Hard Mode Scalecaller Peak - https://www.esologs.com/reports/1hNx4BnacbQJkFXt
Veteran Hard Mode Stone Garden - https://www.esologs.com/reports/y9K8v2mV3n7fzR1A
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